BANK QUAY BULLS 23
ASHTON BEARS 6
Mark Norris Construction Ltd North West Counties League Premier Division side Bank Quay Bulls of Warrington overcame gallant Division One team Ashton Bears of Wigan by four tries to one to win the HALBRO Lancashire County Cup at a wet Liverpool St Helens RUFC in front of a healthy post Christmas crowd.
The architect and match winner was Bulls stand off John Braddish who contributed with a try, three goals and a drop goal and his outstanding display saw him win the inaugural Mike Gregory Trophy.
After a tight opening the Bulls opened the scoring on 15 minutes following a superb break by fullback Ryan Fieldhouse after his side had run the ball. He drew the cover before passing inside to second row forward Niel Smith who crashed over for a converted try.
On their next set the Bulls opened up the Bears defence again only for Fieldhouse to knock on with a clear field ahead of him. The Bears made him pay for the mistake on 19 minutes following a penalty when scrum half Dave Picton flicked an inside pass to winger Andrew Bailey to score and fullback Matthew Melling who was outstanding both in attack and defence added the extras.
The score remained at six all with both sides playing good football considering the conditions until the 30th minute when Fieldhouse this time made no mistake to go in for a converted try.
The Bulls doubled their lead three minutes into the second half after being given a penalty ten meters from the try line on the last tackle. From that the ball was moved out to Braddish who saw a chink in the Bears defence to go through the gap to score and added his third conversion for good measure.
The Bulls began to march forward building the pressure on the Bears and Braddish dropped a goal from ten meters after 48 minutes to make it 19-6.
The Wigan side rallied and had two half chances but winger Steven Naylor couldn’t gather the passes on 59 and 66 minutes.
The Bulls wrapped up the game five minutes from time to dispel any comeback when skipper Phil Braddish scored. He took the ball on the crash just inside his own half and went though Mellings brave tackle, his only blemish of the game to go 50 meters and finish it off with a ‘classic’ swallow dive. Surprisingly older brother John missed the conversion.
It didn’t matter and the Warrington side deservedly won the Cup for the second time in four years, for the Bears they can concentrate on their promotion push to join the Bulls next season in the top division.
BANK QUAY BULLS
1.Ryan Fieldhouse, 2. Steve Caley, 3. Lee Smith, 4. Lee Caldwell, 5. Chris Ross, 6. John Braddish, 7. Anthony Braide, 8. Jamie Peasnall, 9. Jason Garraty, 10. Phil Braddish, 11. Niel Smith, 12. Niel Bray, 13. John Walker. Subs: 14. Jimmy Astbury, 15. Ste Bird, 16. Dale Catterall, 17. Craig Millington.
Tries: Smith, Fieldhouse, J. Braddish, P. Braddish
Goals: J. Braddish 3/4
DG: J. Braddish
ASHTON BEARS
1. Matthew Melling, 2. Steven Naylor, 3. Scott Hughes, 4. Steven Smith, 5. Andrew Bailey, 6. Stuart Millington, 7. Dave Picton, 8. Kieron Spruce, 9. Alex Peet, 10. John Winder, 11. Niel Ireland, 12. David Hughes, 13. Peter Shaw. Subs: 14. Daniel Parkinson, 15. Joseph Burrows, 16. Paul Wilde, 17. Phillip Collier.
Tries: Bailey
Goals: Melling
Referee: Mark Seddon
